Don’t prejudge Mary Jane’s recruiter, PAO asks public

Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta on Wednesday asked the public to refrain from prejudging the guilt of Maria Kristina Sergio, the alleged recruiter of Mary Jane Veloso.

Veloso was convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia and was scheduled to be put to death by firing squad in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

"Marami rin siyang dapat ipaliwanag sa bayan sa pangyayaring ito at mahalagang makuha ang kanyang panig. Panawagan sa mga kababayan natin, huwag natin siya agad husgahan," Acosta told reporters in Camp Crame

"Hindi natin masisisi ang sambayanan kasi siya ang nag-aya na pumunta sa Indonesia, pero ang hinihiling ko lang, lalaliman natin, kasi baka sina Sergio, mga biktima ring mahihirap na kababayan. Bahay nila barong-barong, mahihirap lang din sila sa Cabanatuan," she added.

It was Sergio who allegedly recruited Veloso to work as a domestic helper in Indonesia. She was also alleged to have tricked Veloso into bringing a bag containing 2.6 kilos of heroin into Indonesia.

Sergio and her live-in partner Jonathan Lacanilao on Tuesday turned themselves over to the Nueva Ecija police supposedly for protection, as they were allegedly receiving threats in connection with Veloso's plight.

Both were transferred to Camp Crame on Wednesday.

Sergio arrived in Camp Crame on board a guarded white van.

"Limited lang ang space sa Nueva Ecija," she said.

Asked whose custody will Sergio be placed after, Acosta said it has yet to decided upon, adding that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will discuss about the matter.

De Lima, who arrived at the PNP's National Headquarters shortly after Sergio's arrival, said the suspect will be turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation.

"Itu-turn over sa amin," she told reporters.

Earlier on Wednesday, De Lima said Sergio's custody should be with the NBI because the bureau was the agency that had filed a criminal complaint against her with the Department of Justice.

In a transmittal sent to the DOJ, the NBI recommended charges of human trafficking, estafa, and illegal recruitment.

De Lima said she had already spoken with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas about handing over Sergio to the NBI.

The Philippine National Police is under Roxas' Department of Interior and Local Government. -NB, GMA News